Massage and exercise table



Jan. 5, 1965 J. T.- REID MASSAGE: AND EXERCISE TABLE Filed April 9, 1962 mw A .N .www Q INVENTQR. dac/ 7.d @afd BY @MMM/' MIAMI/7 J ATTORNEY AHH! M l All United States Patent O 3,164,150 MASSAGE AND EXERCSE TABLE .lack T. Reid, Rte. 3, Miami, lla. Filed Apr. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 186,009 1 Claim. (Cl. 12857) This invention relates to massaging apparatus, and more particularly, to apparatus for massaging the human body.

The most important object of this invention is the provision of apparatus capable of massaging normally hardto-reach areas of the body to stimulate the circulation and to relax the body.

Another important object of the instant invention is the provision of apparatus which encourages healthful exercise in achieving the relaxing massage.

A further important object of the invention is to provide apparatus for attaining the foregoing objects which can be quickly and easily manufactured from readily obtainable materials so that the apparatus may be made available to persons within a wide range of economic ability.

In the drawing:

FIGURE l is a plan view of the apparatus of this invention, parts being broken away for clearness; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

The massaging apparatus of this invention, broadly designated 18, includes a base 12 comprising a platform 14 supported by legs 16. A frame broadly designated 18, is shiftable along platform 14, and to this end, is provided With casters 2@ cooperable with track means comprising spaced rails 22 and 24 secured to platform 14 for reciprocation of frame 18 through a substantially rectilinear path of travel on base 12. Rails 22 and 24 are maintained in vertically spaced relationship from platform 14 by means of a spacer 26 extending peripherally around the outer margin of platform 14.

Frame 1S is substantially rigid and is provided with a backing member 28 and a layer 30 of relatively soft material such as sponge rubber or the like. A cover 32 encloses layer 30 and may be of plastic material.

An elongated aperture 34 through frame 18 accommodates an upwardly extending bracket 36 having roller structure 38 journalled thereon. Structure 38 comprises a core 48 and an outer layer 42 of relatively yieldable material such as sponge rubber or the like, with lthe layer 42 extending upwardly beyond the upper surface of frame 18 for a purpose to be made clear hereinafter. The other end of bracket 36 is secured to a yieldable element 44 which may be a leaf spring having one end thereof rigidly aixed to platform 14. Adjusting means 46 is secured to platform 14 and disposed to engage element 44 to adjust the position of structure 38 with respect to the upper surface of frame 18.

In the embodiment shown, element 44 is secured to the underside of platform 14, and bracket 36 extends upwardly through platform 14 through a slot 48. Brackets secured to the underside of backing member 28 on frame 18, are disposed to receive one end of elongated, resilient members 52 such as elastic rope or the like, and the other ends of the members 52 are secured to spacer 26 adjacent one end of base 12. Thus, members 52 serve 3,164,150 Patented Jan. 5, 1965 ICC to bias frame 18 toward the one end of base 12. Pedal means broadly designated 54, is secured to the same end of base 12 and includes a generally upwardly directed framework 56 supporting a transversely extending foot pedal 58 proximal the end of base 12 and disposed to be engaged by the feet of a person lying upon the upper surface of frame 18.

Pedal means 54 is adjustable toward or away from the end of base 12, and to this end, is provided with a pair of spaced, generally horizontally extending arms 60 slidably received over a bar 62 rigid to base 12. A second bar 64 secured to the innermost ends of arms 60, is disposed to engage the undersurface of platform 14 to maintain pedal means 54 in its operative position despite any force directed against pedal 58 tending to rotate the latter about bar 62. The lower edges of arms 60 are provided with notches 66 spaced therealong and disposed to receive bar 62 therein to releas-ably maintain pedal means 54 in any of a number of available positions of relative proximity to the end of platform 14.

A pair of spaced handholds 68 are secured to the end of frame 18 proximal pedal means 54, and are adapted to be gripped by the hands of the person utilizing massaging apparatus 10.

In operation, roller structure 38 is positioned by adjusting means 46 so that the outer layer 42 of roller structure 38 exerts a desired amount of force on the body (not shown) of `a person desiring to utilize massaging apparatus 10. Such person may lie on his back on frame 18 with his feet resting against pedal 58 and his hands gripping handholds 68. Force exerted by the feet on pedal 58 against the bias of members 52, moves frame 18 to the opposite end of platform 14, at which point the operator relaxes the force exerted against foot pedal 58. This permits frame 18 to be returned to its initial position under the bias of members 52. Throughout the reciprocation of frame 18 along rails 22 and 24, roller structure 38 effects a massaging action to the body of the operator of the apparatus. Continued reciprocation further increases the desirable massaging effect, and such effect may be suitably enhanced by selective adjustment of the position of roller structure 38 with respect to the upper surface of frame 18. Any tendency of frame 18 to run off of base 12 is averted by the use of railsv 22 and 24 to guide casters 20 through the reciprocation of frame 18.

Apparatus 10 not only serves to effect the massaging of the body as frame 18 is reciprocated, but the exercise obtained by the individual as he effects such reciprocation, is in itself highly beneficial. Utilization of the apparatus 11i for even relatively short periods of time, is highly relaxing and stimulating.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

Apparatus for massaging lthe human body, said apparatus comprising (a) a base having supporting legs and a platform, there being a slot formed in said platform;

(b) a frame shiftably carried by said base in overlying relationship thereto, said frame being reciprocable with respect to said base, there being an aperture formed in said frame, said aperture partially overlying said slot;

(c) at least one resilient member secured to the base and tile frame to bias the latter in one direction With respect to the base;

(d) a pedal carried by the base and adapted to be engaged by the feet of a person on the frame for shifting the frame in the opposite direction with respect to the base;

A (e) massage .means carried by the base arid extending through said slot and said aperture for engaging the body of a person on the frame, said massage means including a leaf spring having one end thereof seieured to said platform, a bracket secured to the other end thereof, said bracketextending through said slot and into said aperture and a roller journalled on the free end of said bracket and positioned to engage the body of a person on the frame; and

(f) `adjusting means for regulating the position of said message means, said adjusting means being in the form of screw carried by the base and engageable with said leaf spring intermediate the ends thereof.

Reereiiees (ited in the tile of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,098,327 Koch May 26, 1914 2,781,040 Hill Feb, l2, 1957 2,84i,l39 Tarr July l, i958 

